I’m sure this hot take is familiar: “Minis are supposed to be small, therefore any new Mini is automatically inferior because they’ve grown too much.” Well, I’m over it and you should be, too. What hasn’t grown exponentially in size over the last several years? Its name may be a synonym for small, but in the context of the 2025 Mini Countryman S, it’s more than that.

Being fun-sized has been a big part of what defines a Mini, but other things matter. They’re supposed to be quirky, playful, and distinctive. They exist because not everyone wants to drive something that blends into the background, and they’re wiling to pay for the privilege. So, maybe it’s time we reconsider what really defines a Mini, because this third-generation Countryman S still looks and quacks like one despite being the largest Mini ever. Hey, at least they acknowledge it.

What’s new for 2025?

This year, the Countryman receives a full redesign. It’s all-new inside and out, but still instantly recognizable as a Mini. There’s also more tech inside, and because its grown over its already-big-for-a-Mini predecessor—its wheelbase is about five inches longer, it’s about two inches taller, and just about an inch wider overall—the 2025 Countryman is roomier and more practical inside. There are a few updates under the hood as well, but nowhere near as polarizing and drastic as the three-door Cooper going automatic-only. Womp womp, indeed.

The third-gen Countryman may still be instantly recognizable as a Mini, but it does trade its predecessors’ soft and bubbly lines for a more squared-off look. The bug-eyed headlights and signature snout remain, but they’re a bit more angular now. Along the side, Mini thinned out the body cladding, added some new wheel designs, and kept the floating roof and two-tone motif. Around the back, the rear fascia is sharper and more angular than before. Like the three-door, the party trick back there are the taillights—you can configure them to show a handful of various designs, including the Union Jack. Sounds gimmicky, but it’s executed better than you’d think.

Inside, the 2025 Countryman follows the same-but-different shtick as the sheet metal. It leans into minimalism more than any of its predecessors, but keeps that sense of visual playfulness by using vibrant colours and textures to break up an otherwise dark and bland cabin. And like the exterior, it’s executed better than you’d think—there’s much more cheerfulness and visual pizzazz here than any of the Countrymans’ more mainstream competition. Different strokes for different folks very much holds true here, but I hated how much I ended up liking the aqua fabric, rose gold trim, and the novel centre console cubby. It certainly helps that everything feels solid and well-built to the touch.

The next biggest change inside the new Countryman is the new infotainment layout. The oblong instrument cluster and round central screen have been consolodated into one personal pizza-sized touchscreen in the middle of the dashboard. It’s easy to use, there’s so much slick use of colour and bold fonts, and the animations when you flip between drive modes are very cute. Don’t judge me. But it’s not all sunshine and roses: the new layout deletes a lot of the physical switchgear from the old one. It’s all on the screen now—thankfully it’s displayed all the time—plus a pod of haptic-feedback switches for defrost, hazards, and the 360-degree cameras if you have them, as well as a nub for the shifter and start switch, and a volume knob.

Engine and driving impressions

You can have the 2025 Countryman with either a gas or electric powertrain—no PHEV like the last few years. The gassers are further divvied up into two groups. The S is now the base, powered by a 2.0-litre turbo-four paired to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. It’s good for 241 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, and Mini says that ought to yield a zero-to-100 km/h run in 6.4 seconds. The Countryman S is punchy enough to make me want to save my money and not spring for the JCW, and it’s half-decent on gas, too. Compared to its official ratings of 9.8 L/100 kilometres in the city, 7.3 highway, and 8.7 combined, we averaged 9.2 L/100 km over a week of mostly highway commuting in heavy-ish traffic. Not bad.

What is a Mini, really, if not fun to drive? Thankfully, the Countryman S is. The steering is pleasantly sharp and feelsome, the ride is firmer than most other small SUVs but that means you can corner faster, and the transmission is smooth and well-behaved for a dual-clutch. There’s a bunch of drive modes to choose from, if that’s your thing, but we just left the Countryman S to its own devices and managed to have a great time. It’s not exactly light, weighing in at just under 3,800 pounds, but it still manages to feel light on its feet.

Closing remarks

You’ve always had to pay a little extra for a newer Mini’s charming nature compared to more mainstream options, and that rings true with the 2025 Countryman S. It starts at a somewhat reasonable $44,990, but our tester worked out to a steep-ish $53,890 as-tested. Whether or not the charm and personality is worth it is for you to decide, but consider this: for nearly the same money, you could step into a well-equipped BMW X1 instead. They both have the same powertrain; would you rather a Mini badge, or a BMW badge?

I’m officially over the new-Mini-bad-because-it-big take. Get over it, because the redesigned 2025 Mini Countryman S shows there’s more to what a Mini should be. It balances a new look inside and out, a boatload of new tech, and some new powertrains with the charm and fun-to-drive attitude we know and love. Yeah, it’s expensive, but to the right person, the new Countryman S is worth it.